Apparatus for distributing cotton or other materials.



c. E. RILEY. APPARATUS FOR DISTRIBUTING COTTON OR OTHER MATERIALS.

APPLICATION FILED JULY 22.1916.

Patented Jan. 1, 5 SHETS-SMEET 1.

C. E. RILEY. APPARATUS FOR DISTRIBUTING COTTON OR OTHER MATERIALS.

APPLICATION FILED JULY 22.1916- 580 Patented Jan. 1, 1918.

5 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

c. E. RILEY. APPARATUS FOR DISTRIBUHNG COTTON OR OTHER MATERIALS.

APPLICATION HLED IULY 22, 195- I 1,251,580. Patented Jan. 1, 1918.

5 SHEETS-SHEET 4.

c. E. RILEY. APPARATUS FOR DISTRIBUTING COTTON OR OTHER MATERIALS.

I APPLICATION FILED JULY 22. I916- 1,251,580, Patented Jan. 1, 1918,

5 SHEETS-SHEET 5.

Eg -5.5m

UNITED STATES PATENT oEEIoE.

CHARLES E. RILEY, or NEWTON, MesslienUsEr'rs, assIe ca Ton-a 3 AMERICAN MACHINE COMPANY, or rAwrncKEI, RHODE ISLAND, a conronArIoN or MAINE.

APPARATUS FOR DISTRIBUTING GQ-TTON OR OTHER MATERIALS..

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Jan. 1, 1918.

Application filed July 22, 1916. Serial No. 110,697.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that 1, CHARLES E. RILEY,

a citizen of the United States, residing at Newton, in the county of Middlesex and State of Massachusetts, have invented a new and useful Improvement in Apparatus for Distributing Cotton or other Materials, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to certain new and useful improvements in apparatus for distributing cotton or other materials and has particular reference to a device applicable to delivery aprons or lattices, such as used in cotton mills, for delivering the material to a plurality of bins or machines.

The invention resides primarily in an improved device of this type which will be automatic in its action in delivering the material at predetermined intervals to any or all of the bins or machines. v

A further aim of the invention is to provide an improved timing mechanism operable, in this instance, from a continuous drive through a friction clutch.

Further, an object of the invention is in the provision of a plurality of deliveryeifecting mechanisms with which a mechanical selector is associable for selectively and automatically effecting the delivery of cotton, or other material, at the various bins.

The invention embodies, further, the features of construction, arrangements and combinations of parts hereinafter described and claimed, reference being had to the accompanying drawings wherein- Figures 1 and 1 disclose, continuously, a machine in side elevation embodying the present invention.

Figs. 2 and 2 represent, continuously, the machine in top plan.

Fig. 8 is a sectional view on line 33 of Fig. 1 showing the delivery-eflfecting mechanism.

Fig. i is a similar view on line 1-4 of Fig. 2 showing the timing disk and the fricton clutch for driving the same,

Fig. 5 is a detailed perspective of a part of the escapement lever, and Fig. 6 is a view showing a plurality of delivery points.

Referring more particularly to the drawings, the numeral 1 designates the usual channel through which the delivery aprons 1' move, said aprons including in the preferred embodiment a p rality Of delivery sections such sections being tiltableabout shafts 2, as in Fig. 6, and which are spaced along the-channel throughout its length for delivering the material to underlying bins. Fixed on each shaft is a lever 3 weighted at one end, to retain normally the delivery section of the apron in horizontal position, and pivotally carrying at its other end an arm at which is designed to be swung into the paths of lugs or catches 5 of a reciprocatory actuator 6. This actuator consists of a series of connected yokes 7 having the oppositely facing lugs 5 projecting inwardly to engage the arm 1, one lug 5 engaging the arm to open the delivery point and the other arm engaging with the arm, on opposite movement of the actuator to close the delivery point. p

The mechanism employed to swing the arm 1' comprises the present invention and will now be described in detail.

Swingingly mounted on the supporting structure or frame '8 is a crank shaft 9 having an axially extending terminal 10 which overlies the yoke '7 and is comparatively long to be disposed alongside of the arm 1 at alltimes. The shaft 9 is further provided with n arm 11 to which one end of a cable or other connection 12 is fixed. After passing over suitable idlers 13 and 14 on the frame. the flexible connection 12 is connected to the respective one of a plurality of levers 15, one lever being provided for and connected with the shaft 9 at each delivery point. For convenience in illustration and forthe sake of clearness, only one connection 12 has been shown leading from the levers. j r

The levers 15 are pivoted between their ends on a fulcrum rod 16 suitably mounted in a frame 17 of the supporting structure 8, one end of each lever bearing a weight 18 and the opposite end being formed with a cam face 19 over which wipes the selecting dog 20. The dog or lug 20 1s slidable on a rotating shaft 21 so that the lug may be selectively positioned to serve as a depressing element for any of the levers. When each lever is depressed, a locking lever or latch moves to hold the lever 15 in this position until the latch, which is loose on a shaft 23, is kicked free of the lever by a positive timing dog 24. A rod 25 is provided to LOO hold the loose, lever-holdinglatches 22 in position relative to the levers 15. The release dog 21 comprises an elongated frame to engage all the loose latches and is fixed to the positive timing shaft 26 which is geared to the shaft 21 by the gears 27 and 28.

The operation of the mechanism thus far described is as follows:

With the bin or machine to which the cotton is to be delivered, determined, the selecting dog 20 is slid along its shaft 21 to lie in the plane of the lever 15 corresponding to the bin previously determined, so that in rotating with the shaft, said dog will wipe the lever and depress the same. This operation effects a pulling on the flexible connection 12 and consequently a swinging of tie crank shaft 9 to move the arm 1 into the path of the proper catch 5 whereby the reciprocating actuator 6 may partially rotate the shaft 2 and open the delivery point.

The continuously rotating shaft 21 will carry the selecting dog 20 from the depressed lever, and were it not for the respective latch 22 dropping or falling into position to lock the lever depressed, the latter would be elevated by the weights 18 and permit of the actuator closing the delivery point. The latch thus holds the lever 15 depressed until the releasing dog 24: engages with and swings the opposite end 22 of the latch, in an obvious manner.

In this connection it will be noted that since the latches 22 retain their respective levers depressed subsequent to the riding off of the selecting dog 20, the latter may be shifted to act upon another lever so that the newly selected delivery point will be opened before the closing of the next previous delivery point.

The means for properly locating the selecting dog 20 is a very important part of this invention and will now be set forth in a clear manner.

As shown in Fig. 2 a fork 30 is slidably mounted in the frame 17 and straddles the selecting dog 20, sliding movement being imparted to the fork 30 by a pitman 31 connecting the fork to the crank portion 32 of a shaft 33 which latter is journaled in suitable bearings 3st of the frame 17. Loose on this shaft is a pulley 35, and connecting this pulley to the supporting shaft is a friction clutch 36. A belt 37 delivers power to the pulley 35 from a drive pulley 38, the latter being supplied with energy from a suitable source through the transmission gearing designated generally by the numeral 39.

Thus, as the shaft 33 rotates, the fork 30 and selecting dog 20 will be reciprocated. If, however, the shaft is intermittently stopped at predetermined intervals. the dog will correspondinglyv be intermittent in its sliding movement and, with the provision of the means new to be referred to, a sulficient pause will be afiorded to permit the dog to efiectively depress the underlying lever 15. I

This controlling means comprises an escapement or timing wheel -10 of disk formation on the outer face of which. are fixed a circular series of predeterminedly spaced pins 41. Any number of such pins may be provided, each being positioned to engage with the pawl or lever 12 to stop the rotation of shaft 33 when theselecting dog is over the respective lever 15. If it is desired not to deliver cotton to one or more bins, the corresponding pins 41 are removed from the wheel 40.

The escapement pawl 4-2 is pivoted at 43 to the frame 17 and has freoor pin-engaging end bent upwardly at right angles to form a wall 44 and thence forwardly and downwardly to constitute an abutment 15. The wall stat is provided adjacent its upper end and in a plane above the depending abutment 4:5 with a cut-out 1-6. This pawl is constantly being oscillated by means of a lever l7 which is pivoted at 18 between its ends'and formed with a fork 419 to embrace the pawl. lever is connected to an eccentric 50 which is rotated by the gear 51, the latter also driving the gears 27 and 28 thereby timing the operation of the associated parts.

As the pawl l2 is lowered, the pin 11 engaging the wall as is permitted to escape through the cut-out which has been brought down in alineinent therewith. The friction clutch 36, which has been slipping while the pin engaged the wall, now becomes effective and rotates the shaft 33 and the wheel 40 until the suceeding pin 41 strikes the abutment or step 4.5 whereuponthe clutch again slips and as the pawl is raised the arrested pin rides off the abutment l5 and moves on under the action of clutch 36 until arrested by the wall 4. lVhile in this arrested position, the selecting dog acts upon the lever over which it is positioned and the subsequent operation, above described, is repeated.

Reciprocating movement is given the actuator 6 by the rotatable gear 52 which carries a. pin 53 operable in the vertical slot 51 of a rigid arm 55 on the actuator.

Brie y recapitulating. the operation is as follows:

The pins 11 having been predeterminedly arranged on disk 10. the respective weighted levers 15 are successively depressed to swing the crank shafts 9 and thereby disposed the arms s for engagement bv the constantly reciprocating actuator 6. hen thus engaged the levers 3 are swung to oscillate the frames 60.

These'frames are mounted to swing about, thQ'fihitifiSig anicarryontheir outer ends;

The opposite end of the the rollers 61 about which the delivery aprons 1 pass. The frames thereby provide tiltable sections for opening the conveyer'to deliver the cotton-to underlying bins not shown. hen the delivery end of the conveyer is tilted 0r deflected the lower flight of the apron is supported by an idler 62, as indicated by dottedlines in Fig. 6. Spring clips 63 engage the free ends of the frames. for retaining them in normal position.

From the foregoing, it will be clear that the action is entirely automatic and that the device may easily be applied to delivery aprons now commonly used.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Let ters Patent, is- V r 1. In a distributing apparatus, a plurality of delivery point operating members, an

actuator movable to operate said membersselectively, means for selectively moving the actuator including an escapement device for predeterminedly arresting said actuatormoving means to position the actuator rela tive to a selected one of said members, and means for enabling the escapement device to be set in different positions to allow the delivery-point-opcrating members to be actuated at variable intervals.

2. In a distributing apparatus, a conveyer mechanism including a plurality of delivery points, means for opening the delivery points, other means 7 to render the first means effective and including a depressible lever for each delivery point, each lever when depressed effecting operation of the opening means at the corresponding delivery point, means shiftable to engage with any lever for depressing the latter,- and means for automatically locating the shiftable means with respect to a predetermined lever.

3. In a distributing apparatus, a conveyer mechanism including a plurality of delivery points, means for opening the de livery points, other means to render the first means effective and including a depressible lever for each delivery point, each lever when depressed effecting operation of the opening means at the corresponding delivery point, means shiftable to engage with any lever for depressing the latter, means for holding the lever depressed, and means operable independently of the last means for locating the shiftable means relative to another lever. V 7

t. In a distributing apparatus, a conveyer mechanism including a plurality of delivery points, means for opening the delivery points, other means to render the first means effective and including a depressible lever for each delivery point, each lever when depressed effecting operation of the opening means at the corresponding delivery point, means shiftableto engage with anylever for depressing the latter, means for holding the lever depressed, means operable independently of the last means for locating the shiftable means relative toanother lever, and means 'for actuating the lever holding means to release the depressed lever. I t

5. In a distributing apparatus, a plurality of delivery point operating members, an actuatorimovable to operate said members selectively, and means for selectively moving the actuator including a power driven escapement wheel having manually adjustable selecting stops thereon, and an escapement lever cooperating with the wheel stops to arrest said wheel with its means predeterminedly to effect a positioningof said actu-' ator relative to a selected member.

6. In a distributing apparatus, a plurality of delivery pointoperating members, an actuator movable to operate said members selectively, and means for selectively mov ing the actuator including an escapement wheel-having manually adjustable selecting stops thereon, acooperating escapement member movable into and out of the path of the wheel stops to arrest the wheel with its means so as to ellect a positioning of said actuator relative to a selected member, and mechanism for moving the actuator and escapement member to operative and in operative positions substantially in unison.

7. In a distributing apparatus, a plurality of delivery-point-operating members, an actuator movable to operate said members selectively, and means for selectively moving the actuator including an escapement device for predeterminedly arresting the means when said actuator has been moved to its selected position,

8. In a distributing apparatus, a conveyer mechanism including a plurality of delivery points, an opening means for each delivery point, 'means for actuating the opening means selectively, said actuating means comprising an actuator movable to operate any opening means, a rotatable member connected to the actuator for moving the latter, and means for stopping the rotation of said member at predeterminedintervals.

'9. In a distributing apparatus, a conveyer mechanism including a plurality of delivery points, an opening means for each delivery point, means for actuating the opening means selectively, said actuating means comprising an actuator movable to operate any opening means, a rotatable member connected to the actuator for moving the latter, a wheel operable by the rotatable member and provided with projections, an escapement lever adapted for engaging with the projections of the wheel to intermittently stop the rotation of the member, and means formoving the lever in and outof engagement with the wheel projections,

Cit

veyer mechanism including a plurality of delivery points, an opening means for each delivery point, means for actuating the opening means selectively, said actuating means comprising an actuator movable to operate any opening means, a rotatablemember connected to the actuator for moving the latter, an escapement mechanism operable to intermittently stop the rotation of the member, and a drive for the rotatable member consisting in part of a friction connectionadapted for providing slippage when the escapement mechanism has stopped therot-at ion of the member.

12. In a. distributing apparatus, a com veyer mechanism embodying a delivery point, means for opening the delivery point including a hinged arm, and a mechanism for actuating the means comprising a reciprocatory element adapted to engage with the arm when. the latter is swung into the path of the element, and a swingingly mountedcrank shaft having a terminal disposed adjacent the arm to engage with and move the latter into the path of said re ciprocatory element.

13. In a distributing apparatus, a conveyer mechanism embodying a delivery point, means for opening the delivery point including a hinged arm, and a mechanism for actuating the means comprising a reciprocatory element adapted to engage with the arm when the latter is swung into the path of the element, a swingingly mounted crank shaft having a terminal disposed adjacent the arm to engage with and move the latter into the path of said reciprocatory element, means for swinging the crank shaft, said lastmeans including a lever and aflexible-connection between the shaft and lever.

14. In a distributing apparatus, a delivery et'fecting mechanism including a movable part, means to move said part to actuate the mechanism, other means supported in its inoperative position by said part and movable automatically to operative position upon movement of the part by said first means toretain thepart in the position to which the first means has moved it, and

means geared to the first means and operating to-release the part from the. holding;

means i a plurality of weighted levers connected to the means for operating the same, one lever for each delivery means, a dog slidable to a position adjacent each lever to move the same for actuating the respective means,- and means for automatically locating the dog relative to predetermined levers.

17. In a distributing apparatus, a series of delivery means, a mechanism for operating' the means comprising a movable ele-,

ment for each delivery means, a dog shiftable to move any element for actuating the corresponding delivery means, means to r0- tate the dog to move a selected element, and automatic means for locating the dog relative to the selected element.

18. In a distributing apparatus, a series of delivery means, a mechanism for operating the means comprising a movable element for each delivery means, a dog shiftable to move any element for actuating the corresponding. delivery means, means to rotate the dog to move the selected element, means cooperable with each element to hold the latter in the position to which the dog has moved it, and means for locating the dog adjacent another element while the first element is being held by said holding means to permit of a second deliverv means being operated prior to the completion of the operation of the first delivery means.

19. In a distributing apparatus, a series of delivery means, a mechanism for operating the means comprising a movable element for each delivery means, a dog shiftable to move any element for actuating the corre sponding delivery means, means to rotate the dog to move the selected elements, means cooperable with each element to hold the I ing-,themeans omprising;atmovableaelement.

for each delivery means, a dog shiftable to move any element for actuating the corresponding delivery means, means to rotate the dog to move the selected element, means for holding the selected. elementoperative and means for releasing the elements from the holding means.

21., In a distributing apparatus, a plurality of delivery-point-actuating levers each pivoted between its ends and having one s end weighted to fall by gravity, a freely pivoted dog normally resting in its inoperative position on each lever when the latter is inoperative and adapted to move to a position for holding the respective lever depressed when the' latter is depressed, a rotatably and slidably mounted actuator for selectively depressing the levers, and means operatively connected to the actuator for rendering the dogs inoperative. I

22. In a distributing apparatus, a plurality of delivery points, opening means including a movable element for each point, actuating means shiftable to a predetermined position for movingthe adj acent. element for opening the corresponding delivery point, a shifter for the actuating means, a continuously operable drive for the shifter, and means for stopping the shifter to locate the actuating means.

23. In a distributing apparatus, av plurality of delivery points, opening means including a movable element for each point, actuating means shiftable to a predetermined position for moving the adjacent elefment for opening the corresponding delivery point, a shifter for the actuating means, a continuously operable drive for the shifter, a pre-arranged stop on the shifter, and means adapted to be engaged by the stopto locate the actuating means relative to an element. 7

24. In a distributing apparatus, a plurality of delivery points, opening means including a movable element for each point, actuating means shiftable to a predetermined position for moving the adjacent element for opening the corresponding delivery point, a shifter for the actuating means, a continuously operable drive for the shifter, a pro-arranged stop on the shifter, and an escapement device intermittently positioned in the path of the stop to locate the actuating means relative to an element.

25. In a distributing apparatus, a. plurality of delivery points, opening means including a movable element for each point, actuating means shiftable to a predetermined position for moving the adjacent element for opening the correspondingdelivery point, a shifter for the actuatingmeans, a continuously operable drive for the shifter, a plurality of pre-a-rranged stops on the shifter, and a pawl adaptedto engage with the stops to locate the actuating means relative to the elements, each stop being ar-' ranged to engage the pawl to locate the actuating means at apredetermined element.

- 26. In a distributing apparatus, a plurality of delivery points,opening means including a movable element for each point, an actuator shiftable to a predetermined position for moving the adjacent element for opening the corresponding delivery point, a shifter for the actuator, a plurality of prearranged stops on the shifter, a continuously operating friction drive for the shifter, and an escapement lever for engaging with the stops to locate the actuator relative to the corresponding element.

27. In a distributing apparatus, a plurality of delivery points, opening means in cluding a movable element for each point, an actuator shiftable to a predetermined position for moving the adjacent element for opening the corresponding delivery point, a shifter for the actuator, a continuously operable drive for the shifter, a. plurality. of pre-arrangedstops for the shifter, an escapement lever for engaging with the stops to locate the actuator relative to the corresponding element, said lever having anupstanding wall against which the stops move, and meansfor oscillating the lever to move the wall fromthe path of the arrested stops.

28. In a distributing apparatus, a plurality of deliverypoints, opening means including a movable element for each point, an actuator shiftable to a predetermined position for moving the adjacent element for opening the corresponding delivery point, a shifter for the actuator, a continuously operable drive for the shifter, a plurality of pre-arranged stops for the shifter, an escapement lever for engaging with the stops to locate the actuator relative to the corresponding element, said lever having an arresting wall formed with a cut-out, and an abutment arranged in advance of the wall to cover the cut-out, and means for oscillating the lever to aline the wall cut-out with an arrested stop to permit of the escape thereof, the succeeding stop being retained by the abutment.

29. In a distributing apparatus, a. pin rality of delivery points, opening means including a movable element for each point, an actuator shiftable to a predetermined position for moving the adjacent element foropening the corresponding delivery point, a shifter for the actuator, acontinuously operable drive-for the shifter, a plurality ofprearranged stops for the shifter, an escapement lever for engaging with the stops to locate the actuator relative to the corresponding element, a rocking lever having a fork receiving the escapement lever to oscillate the latter for alternatelypositioning the escapement lever to arrestand free the stops.

30. In a distributing apparatus, a plurality of movable, delivery pointoperating members. an actuator movable to be operatively related to any of the aforesaid members, and means for moving the actuator into operative relation with a predetermined one of said members, said means including a drive mechanism and means for rendering the drive mechanism inoperative when the actuator has been predeterminedly positioned.

31. In a distributing apparatus, a plurality of movable, deliverypointoperating members, an actuator movable to be operatively related to any of the aforesaid mem-' bers, a shifter slidable to position predeterminedly the actuator, a friction drive con tinuously operating for moving the shifter, and means for arresting the shifter during the operation of said drive.

32. In a distributing apparatus, a plurality of movable, deliverypointoperating members, an actuator movable to be operatively related to any of the aforesaid members, a shifter for selectively positioning the actuator. a rotary member for operating the shifter, means for rotating the rotary member including a clutch adapted to slip, and means for holding the rotary member against movement when the actuator has u been predeterminedly positioned.

33. In a distributing apparatus, a plurality of' movable, delivery point operating members, an actuator movable to be operatively related to anyof the aforesaid members, means for positioning the actuator in operative relation With a predetermined one of said members, and mechanism for operating the actuator and rendering said first means operative and inoperative When said actuator is in its inoperative and oper-- ative positions respectively.

34. In a distributing apparatus, a plurality of movable, delivery-point-operating members, an actuator movable to be operatively related to any of the aforesaid members, a shifter for-operatively relating the actuator with one of said members, and means timed relative to the actuator for operating the shifter when the actuator is inoperative. I

35. In a distributing apparatus, a plurality of movable, delivery-point-operating members, an actuator movable to be operatively related to any of the aforesaid members, a shifter for operatively relating the actuator with one of said members. power operated means for actuating the shifter, and means for operating the actuator and for rendering the shifter operating means ineffective When the actuator is inoperative.

36. In a distributing apparatus, a plurality of movable, delivery-point-operating members, an actuator movable to be operativelv ated to any of the aforesaid members, a shifter for operatively relating the actuator with one of said members, a shaft having means for imparting a shifting movement to the shifter, a clutch on the shaft adapted to slip when the shaft is unusually resisted, and means timed relative to the actuator for resisting movement of the shaft.

37. In a distributing apparatus, a plurality of movable, delivery point operating members, an actuator movable to be open atively relatedto any of the aforesaid members, ashifter for operatively relating the actuator With one of said members, and means for actuating the shifter including an escapement device operatively connected to the actuator for intermittently and automatically arresting the shifter to position the actuator relative to a selected member.

38. In a distributing apparatus, a plurality of movable, deliverypointoperating members, an actuator movable to be oper: atively related to any of the aforesaid members, a shifter for operatively relating the actuator With one of said members, means for actuating the shifter including an escapement Wheel rotative therewith, an escapement lever arranged adjacent the Wheel, and means on the Wheel engageable by the lever for arresting the shifter actuating means, said second means being adjustable on the Wheel.

39. In a distributing apparatus, a plurality of movable, delivery point operating members, an actuator movable to be operatively related to any of the aforesaid members, a shifter for operatively relating the actuator With one of said members, means for actuating the shifter including an escape ment Wheel rotative therewith, an escapement lever arranged adjacent the Wheel, an actuator for the escapement lever operatively connected to the actuator, and means on the wheel engageable by the lever for arresting the shifter actuating means, said second means being adjustable on the Wheel.

40. In a distributing apparatus, movable, delivery-point-operating members, a rotatable shaft, an actuator slidable on the shaft to be operatively positioned relative to a predetermined member, means for shifting the actuator on its shaft, said means including a shaft and a drive therefor exertinga constant driving force on the second shaft, an escapement Wheel fixed on the latter, an escapement lever cooperating With the Wheel, a second lever engaging the escapement lever for operating it, and means operable by the first shaft for actuating the second lever.

41. In a distributing apparatus, movable, delivery-point-operating members, a rotatable shaft, an actuator slidable on the shaft to be operatively positioned relative to a predetermined member, means for shifting the actuator on its shaft, said means including lot a shaft and a drive therefor exerting a conname to this specification in the presence of stant drivinghforc?i on the second shaflt, an two subscribing Witnesses. escapement W eel Xed on the latter, a justable stops on the Wheel, an escapement lever CHARLES RILEY cooperating with the stops to predeterminedly arrest the actuator actuating means.

In testimony whereof I have signed my Witnesses:

T. O. SHIHOLSON, L. M. DILLON.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the "Commissioner of Patents, Washington, D. O. 

